Chris W. Cox, the executive director of the NRA’s lobbying and policy arm, said the NRA should not have scolded Open Carry Texas as “downright weird” in a Friday posting. During a Tuesday interview on the NRA’s Internet TV channel, Mr. Cox blamed the media for advancing the idea that there was a rift within the gun rights world and said the NRA supports open-carry efforts.

Open Carry Texas supporters are known for carrying large rifles into restaurants, stores and other public spaces –drawing widespread attention, and also leading some chains including Starbucks and Chipotle to ask that customers not being guns into their stores.

“The truth is an alert went out that referred to this type of behavior as weird or somehow not normal, and that was a mistake,” Mr. Cox said. “It shouldn’t have happened and I’ve had a discussion with the staffer who wrote that piece and expressed his personal opinion. And our job isn’t to criticize the lawful behavior of fellow gun owners. … So this is a distraction and certainly the media has had a field day with it.”

On Friday the NRA posted an unsigned story that suggested Open Carry Texas’s tactics are hurting the greater gun-rights cause. Then it wrote:

“Let’s not mince words, not only is it rare, it’s downright weird and certainly not a practical way to go normally about your business while being prepared to defend yourself. To those who are not acquainted with the dubious practice of using public displays of firearms as a means to draw attention to oneself or one’s cause, it can be downright scary.

The issue, Mr. Cox said Tuesday, is one of “tactics,” not of end goals.

“We can have disagreements on tactics but what we can’t have are disagreements on underlying principles,” he said.

About Washington Wire

Washington Wire is one of the oldest standing features in American journalism. Since the Wire launched on Sept. 20, 1940, the Journal has offered readers an informal look at the capital. Now online, the Wire provides a succession of glimpses at what’s happening behind hot stories and warnings of what to watch for in the days ahead. The Wire is led by Reid J. Epstein, with contributions from the rest of the bureau. Washington Wire now also includes Think Tank, our home for outside analysis from policy and political thinkers.